Reusable storage bag

ABSTRACT

A reusable food storage receptacle is disclosed comprising a first sidewall and a second sidewall integrally molded at a bottom edge, a left edge, and a right edge to form the storage receptacle. The first sidewall and the second sidewall have a releasable seal at a top portion to seal a foodstuff therein. A panel is attached to an exterior surface of the first sidewall. The panel is configured to retain a plurality of utensils.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The embodiments generally relate to food storage containers and morespecifically relate to reusable food storage bags.

BACKGROUND

Disposable bags and containers are commonly used to transportfoodstuffs. These allow food to be heated and/or refrigerated andfunction to allow the user to consume the foodstuff directly from thebag or container. Flexible packages are especially well suited tocontain and dispense easily portable food products. Often, both solidand liquid items are stored and form an easily dispensable receptacle toallow the consumer to ingest the foodstuff contained therein.

In the current arts, consumers must carry the necessary utensils toconsume the food stored in the receptacle. The utensils and napkins arestored or provided separately from the food to avoid dirtying of theutensil before use. Further, for some food items such as salads,condiments are preferably separated until the time of consumption. Thisrequires additional containers to be used, resulting in excess waste,and in some instances, require the consumer to remove the additionalcontainer before heating or to refrigerate the contents of the primarycontainer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This summary is provided to introduce a variety of concepts in asimplified form that is further disclosed in the detailed description ofthe embodiments. This summary is not intended to identify key oressential inventive concepts of the claimed subject matter, nor is itintended for determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.

The embodiments herein provide a reusable food storage receptaclecomprising a first sidewall and a second sidewall integrally molded at abottom edge, a left edge, and a right edge to form the storagereceptacle. The first sidewall and the second sidewall have a releasableseal at a top portion to seal a foodstuff therein. A panel is attachedto an exterior surface of the first sidewall, the panel configured toretain a plurality of utensils.

In one aspect, the reusable food storage receptacle also comprises anindicator to permit a user to selectively indicate a date. The date maycorrespond to the date the foodstuff was prepared, the date thefoodstuff was stored within the storage receptacle, or the date whichthe foodstuff expires.

In one aspect, the indicator is positioned on the exterior surface ofthe second sidewall.

In one aspect, the indicator is further comprised of a rotationallymounted knob and a pointer, wherein the pointer is positioned toindicate the date.

In one aspect, the storage receptacle is constructed of a flexiblematerial permitting the storage of a liquid or a solid foodstuff.

In one aspect, the storage receptacle may be configured in a collapsedor an expanded configuration.

In one aspect, a tab is integrally molded to the left edge or the rightedge, the tab comprised of an aperture to permit the user to hang thestorage receptacle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A complete understanding of the present embodiments and the advantagesand features thereof will be more readily understood by reference to thefollowing detailed description when considered in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates a front perspective view of the food storagereceptacle, according to some embodiments;

FIG. 2 illustrates a front elevation view of the food storagereceptacle, according to some embodiments;

FIG. 3 illustrates a front elevation view of the food storage receptacleand indicator, according to some embodiments;

FIG. 4 illustrates a right side elevation view of the food storagereceptacle, according to some embodiments;

FIG. 5 illustrates a left side elevation view of the food storagereceptacle, according to some embodiments;

FIG. 6 illustrates a top plan view of the food storage receptacle,according to some embodiments;

FIG. 7 illustrates a bottom plan view of the food storage receptacle,according to some embodiments; and

FIG. 8 illustrates a rear perspective view of the food storagereceptacle, according to some embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The specific details of the single embodiment or variety of embodimentsdescribed herein are to the described receptacle and methods of use. Anyspecific details of the embodiments are used for demonstration purposesonly, and no unnecessary limitations or inferences are to be understoodtherefrom.

In general, the embodiments described herein relate a storage receptaclefor foodstuff. As used herein, the term foodstuff may include solid orliquid food items or beverages.

In reference to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the food storage receptacle 100 isillustrated having a first sidewall 110 and second sidewall 120 attachedat a left edge 130, a right edge 140, and a bottom edge 150 to form aninterior cavity to store a foodstuff therein. A tab 160 extends from theleft edge 130 and/or the right edge 140 of the food storage receptacle100. The tab 160 includes an aperture 170 to permit the user to hang thefood storage receptacle 100. A releasable seal 180 is positioned at atop end to permit the user to selectively open and close the foodstorage receptacle 100. Protrusion 190 (shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 3) ispositioned at the top end of the food storage receptacle to facilitateopening of the releasable seal.

In some embodiments, the food storage receptacle is constructed of asingle mold such that the first sidewall and the second sidewall areintegrally molded to one another.

In some embodiments, the food storage receptacle is configured to standin an upright, wherein the releasable seal is at a top end of the foodstorage container.

FIG. 3 illustrates the food storage receptacle 100 in an exemplaryembodiment wherein an indicator 300 is positioned on the exteriorsurface 310 of the second sidewall 120. The indicator 300 may berotationally mounted to the exterior surface 310 of the food storagereceptacle 100 to permit the user to rotate the indicator 300 to displaya date.

In some embodiments, the indicator 300 may be comprised of a rotatingknob 320 and a pointer 330 extending circumferentially from the rotatingknob 320, such that the pointer 330 identifies a date provided on theexterior surface of the food storage receptacle 100.

In some embodiments, the date may be the date the foodstuff was disposedwithin the food storage receptacle 100, the date the food is intended tobe consumed, or the date which the foodstuff within the receptacle mayperish.

In some embodiments, the indicator 300 may be positioned on the secondsidewall 120 of the food storage receptacle 100. Further, a plurality ofindicators may be provided on the exterior surface 310 of the foodstorage receptacle 100 each indicating a metric related to the foodstuffwithin the food storage receptacle 100.

FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 illustrate the food storage receptacle 100 in acollapsed configuration wherein the first sidewall 110 and the secondsidewall 120 are contacting or nearly contacting one another. Thecollapsed configuration may facilitate storage of a plurality of foodstorage receptacles 100 when not in use. FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 illustratethe food storage receptacle in an expanded configuration wherein thefirst sidewall 110 and the second sidewall 120 are separated toaccommodate the foodstuff therein. One skilled in the arts willunderstand that the food storage receptacle may be configured in aplurality of sizes and shapes to accommodate the storage andtransportation of a plurality of foodstuff therein.

FIG. 8 illustrates the food storage panel arranged in an uprightposition. A panel 800 attached to the exterior surface 310 of the foodstorage receptacle 100 to retain a plurality of items therein. Suchitems may include utensils or condiments which are separated from thefoodstuff retained within the interior of the food storage receptacle.Such utensils may include forks, spoons, knives, chopsticks, or similaritems commonly utilized. The upright position facilitates consumption ofthe foodstuff stored within the storage receptacle, such that the usermay consume the foodstuff directly therefrom. In such, the food storagereceptacle 100 may be utilized as a lunchbox.

In some embodiments, the panel is configured to retain a heating andcooling system, such as a heat retaining pack or a cold pack. Theheating and cooling system pack may be heated or cooled water, or asimilar previously frozen or heated compound or mixture known in thearts which facilitates temperature regulation of the items disposedwithin the food storage receptacle.

In some embodiments, the panel is gusseted to the exterior surface ofthe food storage receptacle 100 to provide a sealed bond therebetween.

In some embodiments, the first sidewall and/or the second sidewall maybe comprised of a writeable surface to permit the user to writeinformation using a pen, pencil, marker, or other writing utensil. Inone example, the writing surface is positioned on the panel.

In some embodiments, the storage receptacle may be configured to store afoodstuff, a utensil, a plurality of home goods, a plurality of officesupplies, and various other items which may be contained in the interiorof the receptacle.

Many different embodiments have been disclosed herein, in connectionwith the above description and the drawings. It will be understood thatit would be unduly repetitious and obfuscating to literally describe andillustrate every combination and subcombination of these embodiments.Accordingly, all embodiments can be combined in any way and/orcombination, and the present specification, including the drawings,shall be construed to constitute a complete written description of allcombinations and subcombinations of the embodiments described herein,and of the manner and process of making and using them, and shallsupport claims to any such combination or sub combination.

An equivalent substitution of two or more elements can be made for anyone of the elements in the claims below or that a single element can besubstituted for two or more elements in a claim. Although elements canbe described above as acting in certain combinations and even initiallyclaimed as such, it is to be expressly understood that one or moreelements from a claimed combination can in some cases be excised fromthe combination and that the claimed combination can be directed to asubcombination or variation of a subcombination.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the presentembodiment is not limited to what has been particularly shown anddescribed hereinabove. A variety of modifications and variations arepossible in light of the above teachings without departing from thefollowing claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A reusable food storage receptacle, comprising: afirst sidewall and a second sidewall integrally molded at a bottom edge,a left edge, and a right edge to form a storage receptacle, the firstsidewall and the second sidewall having a releasable seal at a topportion to seal a foodstuff therein; and a panel attached to an exteriorsurface of the first sidewall, the panel configured to retain aplurality of utensils.
 2. The reusable food storage receptacle of claim1, further comprising an indicator.
 3. The reusable food storagereceptacle of claim 2, wherein the indicator is positioned on theexterior surface of the first sidewall.
 4. The reusable food storagereceptacle of claim 3, wherein the indicator is further comprised of arotationally mounted knob and a pointer.
 5. The reusable food storagereceptacle of claim 4, wherein the indicator is further comprised of aplurality of text to indicate a date.
 6. The reusable food storagereceptacle of claim 1, wherein the storage receptacle is constructed ofa flexible material.
 7. The reusable food storage receptacle of claim 6,wherein the storage receptacle can store a liquid and a solid foodstuff.8. A reusable food storage receptacle, comprising: a first sidewall anda second sidewall integrally molded at a bottom edge, a left edge, and aright edge to form a storage receptacle, the first sidewall and thesecond sidewall having a releasable seal at a top portion to seal afoodstuff; a panel attached to an exterior surface of the firstsidewall, the panel configured to retain a plurality of utensils; and anindicator positioned on an exterior surface of the second sidewall toselectively indicate a date.
 9. The reusable food storage receptacle ofclaim 8, wherein the indicator is further comprised of a rotationallymounted knob and a pointer.
 10. The reusable food storage receptacle ofclaim 9, wherein the pointer points to the date to indicate the date thefoodstuff was stored.
 11. The reusable food storage receptacle of claim8, wherein the storage receptacle is configured to stand in an uprightposition.
 12. The reusable food storage receptacle of claim 8, whereinthe first sidewall and the second sidewall define an interior of thefood storage receptacle wherein foodstuff is stored.
 13. The reusablefood storage receptacle of claim 8, wherein the storage receptacle isconfigurable in a collapsed configuration to facilitate storage.
 14. Thereusable food storage receptacle of claim 8, further comprising awriting surface to permit the user to write on at least one of thefollowing: first sidewall, the second sidewall, and the panel.
 15. Thereusable food storage receptacle of claim 8, further comprising aheating and cooling system retained by the panel.
 16. A reusable foodstorage receptacle, comprising: a first sidewall and a second sidewallintegrally molded at a bottom edge, a left edge, and a right edge toform a storage receptacle defined by an interior formed by the firstsidewall and the second sidewall, the first sidewall and the secondsidewall having a releasable seal at a top portion to seal a foodstuff;a panel attached to an exterior surface of the first sidewall, the panelconfigured to retain a plurality of utensils and a plurality of liquids;a rotationally mounted indicator to permit a user to selectivelyindicate a date; and a tab integrally molded to the left edge or theright edge, the tab comprised of an aperture to permit the user to hangthe storage receptacle.
 17. The reusable food storage receptacle ofclaim 16, wherein the storage receptacle is configurable in a collapsedconfiguration to facilitate storage.
 18. The reusable food storagereceptacle of claim 16, wherein the storage receptacle is configurablein an expanded configuration to facilitate maximum foodstuff storagetherein.
 19. The reusable food storage receptacle of claim 18, whereinthe storage receptacle can store a foodstuff, a utensil, a plurality ofhome goods, and a plurality of office supplies.
 20. The reusable foodstorage receptacle of claim 16, wherein the indicator is furthercomprised of a rotationally mounted knob and a pointer.